Becoming infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, can produce some immediate symptoms. The first signs may not appear directly connected to the disease, however, as more recognizable and serious symptoms typically occur years after infection. A person experiencing the early signs should consider them in context with any risky behavior. For example, if definite signs of HIV infection occur within a week of having unprotected sex or sharing needles for drug use, infection may have occurred.
Initial Signs
Shortly after the HIV infection begins to take hold, the infected person will experience flu-like symptoms. These problems, usually occurring within two to four weeks of infection, may not appear connected to HIV, but if related to risky behavior should cause concern. MayoClinic.com reports a fever generally occurs. The person may experience increased thirst because of the fever. The fever will only last for a couple of days. A headache may occur as well as a sore throat and a rash in specific areas or around the body of the infected person. The person also may notice a swelling of the lymph glands in the neck, under the arms or in the groin. Following these initial symptoms, no others may show for up to a decade. The person can spread the disease at all times once infected.
Later Signs
The swelling in the lymph glands may return eight or nine years following the initial infection, MayoClinic.com reports. This occurs because HIV grows and multiplies in the lymph nodes. The infected person then may experience other signs of the disease growing and spreading in the body. For example, he may get diarrhea that can become chronic. This can lead to dehydration--as can any form of diarrhea--as well as to a loss of body weight. The fever may return at this point as well. New symptoms may include breathing difficulties such as shortness of breath, as well as a developing cough.
Late Signs
HIV may develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, approximately a decade following infection. Drugs exist to fight the infection, but no cure exists. AIDS occurs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when a positive results from an HIV test along with one of two other conditions. Because HIV destroys CD4 lymphocytes, a count of less than 200 means AIDS has developed. The other criteria for AIDS includes the appearance of an infection that is described as opportunistic. This kind of infection normally would not occur because a healthy immune system would fend it off.
AIDS Signs
The HIV infection, when it reaches the AIDS stage, can induce many severe signs of the infection. For example, the person may develop vision problems such as distortion and blurring. Chronic diarrhea will set in along with night sweats, long-lasting fevers, fatigue, headaches that persist and other problems.
